In his book on satipatthana, Ven. Anaalayo devotes a fair bit of attention to external satipatthana,
recommending the interpretation that one should make inferences about others' mind states by observing their habitual comportment. He says this could help keep satipatthana from being too self-centered.
I find it a bit surprising. Interesting to make such guesses about the cittas at work in people around us, but sounds more like a distraction than a support for satipatthana. And as for encouraging extroversion as a balance for too much introversion, as he does, sounds a bit odd. (i guess he is using a stricter definition of extroverted, to mean turning towards others rather than the outgoing, talkative image of extrovrted we usually have.
Any thoughts? Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?
External satipatthana
External satipatthana
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
- tiltbillings
- Posts: 23046
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Re: External satipatthana
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: External satipatthana
tiltbillings wrote:See
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1122" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thanks Tiltbilling, I can see others have also been perplexed by the interpretation the Venerable gives most weight to.
In his talk on MN10, Bhikkhu Bodhi also goes with this interpretation....
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
Re: External satipatthana
I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.phil wrote:Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?
Sedaka Sutta
Re: External satipatthana
No, i.e. if then only incidentally. Generally I suspect this kind of volitional practice to be cultivation of arbitrary imputations. So I prefer to refrain from this.phil wrote:Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?
I think I prefer the non-conventional interpretation of "external satipatthana" as an objectivying analysis of experience from an observing perspective.
In contrast to this "internal satipatthana" then means a non-objectivying analysis of experience from an experiencing perspective.
Kind regards
- tiltbillings
- Posts: 23046
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am
Re: External satipatthana
As I pointed out in the above link, it certainly can be practiced that way quite literally and meaningfully. It is not only a wisdom practice, but also a compassion practice.Alexei wrote:I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.phil wrote:Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?
Sedaka Sutta
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: External satipatthana
I can certainly see it as a compassion practice and a wise way to approach others. For example, we know that not showing aversion towards others' behaviour is a form of dana, the gift of freedom from fear. Being tuned into what others' expressions indicate about their mindstates will help there.tiltbillings wrote:As I pointed out in the above link, it certainly can be practiced that way quite literally and meaningfully. It is not only a wisdom practice, but also a compassion practice.Alexei wrote:I practice in this way and find it enormous helpful. One can understand better other people and so oneself.phil wrote:Do you practice external satipatthana in this way?
Sedaka Sutta
I also see now that there is an active thread related to this topic in the meditation corner, I should read more thoroughly....
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
Re: External satipatthana
Hi,
There's a thread about the term "bahiddhā":
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8462" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta, Dmytro
There's a thread about the term "bahiddhā":
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8462" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta, Dmytro
Re: External satipatthana
Thanks Dmytro, interesting.Dmytro wrote:Hi,
There's a thread about the term "bahiddhā":
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8462" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta, Dmytro
Kammalakkhano , bhikkhave, bālo, kammalakkhano pandito, apadānasobhanī paññāti
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)
(The fool is characterized by his/her actions/the wise one is characterized by his/her actions/Wisdom shines forth in behaviour.)
(AN 3.2 Lakkhana Sutta)